Patriots part ways with veteran wide receiver
The New England Patriots are waiving wide receiver K.J. Osborn in what is being reported as a mutual parting of ways.
The New England Patriots are coming out of the bye week with another shakeup to their wide receiver room. As first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport Tuesday morning, the team is waiving receiver K.J. Osborn.
Osborn, 27, came to New England as a free agent this offseason on a one-year contract. He was one of the team’s most-used receivers over the first month of the season but has played just 60 offensive snaps since Week 4, including being inactive for three games in a row and four of the last five. In seven games total this year he caught seven passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.
With Osborn’s role shirking, there were rumors leading up to the NFL trade deadline in early November that he could be dealt. When he wasn’t ESPN’s Mike Reiss noted that Osborn’s release was also possible.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Patriots waiving Osborn was “a mutual decision” as Osborn now looks for a team “where he will be able to play more.”
In New England, two roster factors were keeping Osborn off the field. Kendrick Bourne’s return from rehabbing a torn ACL lined up with Osborn’s initial drop in playing time. On top of that the team has spoken about a preference to get younger players on the roster experience, with four first- or second-year receivers on the roster getting snaps over Osborn in recent weeks.
Osborn is now the third member of the Patriots’ veteran free agency class to not finish the season with the team. Center Nick Leverett was also let go back in October, while tackle Chuks Okorafor left the team after Week 1.
The Patriots now have an open spot on their active 53-man roster. That spot likely could be earmarked for guard Cole Strange or tackle Caedan Wallace, who are both eligible to return from IR this week.
